This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Cougars got exactly what they wanted out of Saturday's paycheck game against woeful Savannah State Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Senior Day.

There were no major injuries, everybody got a chance to play, and the crowd (announced at 52,123) was not as small as it looked like it was going to be when the game began. Sure, it was half-empty, but that's more than I would have predicted when forecasts called for rain turning to snow Saturday afternoon. Announced attendance was 52,123.

The Cougars' starters played about a quarter and a half, if that, before giving way to second, third, fourth and even fifth-stringers.

Some guys who haven't started all season got starts Saturday, including linebacker Austin Heder, weak side linebacker Sae Tautu, cornerback Michael Davis and receiver Ross Apo.

The biggest news of the day wasn't good; BYU announced that freshman linebacker Fred Warner is out for the season with a back injury. The Cougars obviously didn't need the playmaker Saturday, but he will be missed next week at California, and in the bowl game.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall thought his team played well, but my impressions from the first quarter — the only quarter that mattered, really — were that the Cougars were undisciplined and mistake-prone.

There were too many unforced errors that good teams shouldn't be making in the 11th game of the season.

For instance, false starts, holding penalties and an unnecessary roughness penalty threatened to stall drives, and Apo and Terenn Houk dropped would-be touchdown passes (Houk made amends by grabbing a TD throw a few plays later). Zac Stout and Jordan Preator dropped picks that probably should have been pick-sixes. Mistakes like that won't get it done against the 5-6 Cal Bears, who will be playing for bowl eligibility.

The Cougars had to punt at the end of the first quarter after failing to pick up a first down on third-and-1. BYU fumbled the ball five times against the worst defense it will have played in the last decade. The Cougars pounced on four of those, but still, those will get you beat against good teams.

Anyway, that's my take. Mendenhall's was different.

Here is his opening comment in the post game news conference:

"I think our team handled a unique challenge well. I think they did a nice job through practice, staying focused, I think they did a nice job through the game staying together and staying focused. Again, a lot of possibilities for that game to not have been as sharp, or not have been a momentum-builder, but I thought it was.

I think our offense played really well to start the game. I think our defense did just right to begin. And so I think we gained momentum through the quarter and a half that we played our starters.

It isn't a situation that I would like to do again, in terms of having that caliber of opponent, in that unique of a situation. However, some of those challenges are just as difficult against some really good opponents on a bigger stage.

So I think our team showed maturity and I think they pulled for each other. I was really encouraged by our sideline when the younger players and those who don't get to play as much got their opportunity. They were genuinely happy for each other, and that is always fun to see as a coach.

So after that, I am looking forward now to the next challenge, not only managing practice and Thanksgiving, but going down to play Cal and to continue our quest to have a really nice finish to the season."

Couple of notes from the game:

* It was BYU's biggest shutout win since a 65-0 win over New Mexico in 1988.

* Bronco Mendenhall is now 16-1 in November home games.

* BYU has scored 15 touchdowns in its last 17 red zone possessions. That was a big problem last year; this year, not as much, although the competition level is obviously lower.

* Running backs A.J. Moore (I actually thought he had left the program; my bad) and Nate Carter scored their first career touchdowns.

* Jordan Leslie caught a touchdown pass, his fourth TD of the season, and has now caught a pass in 39 straight games.

Here's more from Mendenhall:

On his advice to players as they prepared for this week:

"Fortunately, my philosophy and my approach every week has always been that it is only about us anyway. And so there really wasn't much inconsistency of message. This was just, 'this is the next one.' That demonstrates how important it is for the focus to only be on us. And they handled it well. I knew this morning at walk-through, it was bright and early, that their mindset was good. You can kind of tell how it is going to be. The bus ride down the canyon, the bus sounded right and felt right. So, I was at ease, not only through practice, but how they handled the night before the game, etc., which is a step in the right direction, maturity-wise, for our team."

On how nice to take control early:

"It was refreshing. Again, regardless of opponent, that doesn't guarantee that you are just going to play like that. So, it was just a great sign for me as the head coach, and for our team, to really do what they were prepared to do, and execute at that level, and do so right from the beginning all the way until … when we pulled Christian out.

"I think I told Robert [Anae}, if we hit 40, get Christian out, and that happened somewhere in the second quarter. I almost pulled him out after 35 points, but he did a nice job."

On Rob Daniel not playing a lot:

"He did play. He played quite a bit early. He was rotating with Michael Davis and Jordan Preator. Rob has had a long season, carrying a lot of reps. So, it a good opportunity not only to play him some, but rest him some and so Michael Davis has worked really, really hard, and Jordan Preator is coming along, so it was a good game to get Michael some more experience and give Rob some rest."

On getting rest for starters:

"As early as possible, only if the game dictated it. It was clear after just a couple of series that that was going to happen. And as much as you would like to always say that I could have guaranteed that result, I couldn't. So I reserve the right to say if before the games in terms of interviews. I was just glad it played out that way."

On allowing just 63 yards:

"It has been a lot of hard work. Nick Howell and our defensive players have worked a long time this season to continue to refine, and try to put the right players in the right spots at the right time, and execute at the right level. I thought we played consistently a week ago, I thought we played the week before that [vs. MTSU]. And so it is trending in the right direction. It just has taken awhile to get this group seasoned, and mature, and executing at the level we wanted.

"Certainly this wasn't a great gauge, in terms of opponent, but statistically it is hard to do better than that. I still think, in context, you have to say, 'pretty impressive.'"

On the running backs A.J. Moore and Nate Carter making plays:

"A.J. was the player I singled out in the locker room after. Easy to see the guy with the ball, and I am sure there will be other guys when I watch the film after that I say, man I was impressed with so and so, and so and so, but A.J. after a pretty slow start a year ago, or a slow return this year, as he is our primary scout team running back, he has been impressive. Each week he is more durable, each week he is tougher, each week he is making more guys miss. So it was really fun to have him get a chance. And really, the ones that were cheering for him the most were our defensive players. Because they recognize his improvement, wanted to see him get a chance. So, he helped himself. He has helped himself this year, and it was fun to get him out there so others could see him."

On why they were alternating McCoy Hill and Hunter Moore in the second quarter at QB:

"So McCoy is certainly more capable of throwing the ball. Hunter is our scout team quarterback and is a fairly elusive runner. You could see he was still a little bit uncertain out there. Our intent was for him not to slide. He heard us tell the other quarterbacks to slide so much that he kinda did that. We wanted him actually to be a running back. Fun for us to see his eyes, how wide they were, and how fun it was for him. That's just refreshing to see something not taken for granted, being a BYU football player, where guys are just, they can't wait to be out there. I enjoyed that, maybe more than anything today, was just a new baseline of seeing guys really thankful of being able to play."